The future of modern dentistry is now available with Dr. Stephen Hoard. Using laser dentistry in his New Bern, NC, dentist office, Dr. Hoard offers his patients state-of-the-art dental care. It is estimated that fewer than 10% of dentists have incorporated laser dentistry techniques into their practices and treatments. Laser dentistry is a general dentistry service Dr. Hoard offers to patients with gum and mouth tissue problems.
What Can Laser Dentistry Do?
A dental laser is a handheld device that uses heat and light wavelengths to cut and contour tissue. The laser vaporizes tissue because it is a concentrated beam of light and heat. There are hard tissue lasers and soft tissue lasers. Our office uses soft tissue diode lasers to treat the gums. Other lasers can whiten teeth, remove tooth enamel, and more.
Some of the many uses for dental lasers include:
- Teeth Whitening: Some lasers use light to brighten teeth by multiple shades. After a dentist applies a whitening gel, a laser uses heat to help the gel enter the teeth.
- Biopsies: Lasers can remove small pieces of tissue to test for oral cancer. They can also remove oral cancer lesions from the mouth.
- Frenectomy: A dental laser can treat tongue and lip ties. These problems are common among children and can affect their speech and eating. Lasers cut tissue to free the tongue and lips.
- Tooth Preparation: Hard tissue lasers can gently reshape teeth to help remove decayed material. This prepares them for treatments like dental fillings and crowns.
Dental lasers allow Dr. Hoard to perform many soft tissue procedures that traditionally require surgery. With laser dentistry, Dr. Hoard can isolate treatment to one area. This reduces trauma or unneeded damage to other parts of the mouth that do not need treatment.
Lasers are also comfortable, so many patients do not need anesthesia before their procedures. Because lasers are sterile, they minimize bleeding and swelling during and after the procedure. Dental lasers can also help remove infection from the gum pockets. Patients experience minimal pain following their laser treatment.
Benefits of Dental Laser Treatment
Lasers offer many advantages for dental treatment. Dental lasers:
- Minimize post-treatment bleeding
- Do not make noise
- Offer precise treatment
- Reduce the need for anesthesia
- Are less painful than traditional surgical tools
- Reduce the risk of bacterial infection
- Do not require stitches or sutures
- Regenerate healthy tissue
Lasers are quieter and more comfortable than drills and other surgical tools. Dental tools that vibrate can often create more damage to the teeth and gums than lasers. Lasers will not vibrate; we can treat tissue without damaging surrounding soft and hard tissue.
Treatment with lasers is often quicker and more precise. Lasers use a small beam of light that only treats where we place it in the mouth. The light and heat from the laser will not impact the surrounding teeth or gums.
Treatment with Laser Dentistry in New Bern, NC
Before laser treatment, Dr. Hoard will provide you with special glasses. Wearing these glasses will protect you from the laser light. He may use anesthesia as needed. However, in many cases, this is not required. Then, Dr. Hoard focuses the light to cut or contour tissue.
One of the most common laser procedures Dr. Hoard provides is cosmetic gum reshaping. Patients with a “gummy smile” benefit greatly from laser treatment. A gummy smile occurs when there is excess gum tissue that covers teeth. This makes teeth appear shorter than they are.
Dental lasers remove excess gum tissue to expose more of the tooth structure. Laser technology is also instrumental in completing natural-looking smile makeovers. A smile makeover uses multiple cosmetic treatments to change the appearance of the teeth and gums.
Other procedures that use lasers include:
- Gum disease and gum inflammation treatment
- Treating and healing of canker sores and cold sores
- Treatment of abscess
- Tissue removal for dental implants and slow erupting teeth
Post-Operative Care
Depending on your reason for laser treatment, you may experience gum swelling and tenderness. This is normal after gum disease treatment. Treating inflamed gum tissue will naturally lead to irritation for a few days. To minimize this irritation, you can follow a soft food diet. Antibiotics can also help prevent problems like gum reinfection.
You can continue to brush and floss your teeth and gums. However, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Brush and floss gently to reduce pain and irritation.
Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol about two weeks after your treatment. This can slow the gum healing process.
Laser Dentistry FAQs
Learn more about dental lasers with answers to these commonly asked questions:
Is laser deep cleaning painful?
You should feel minimal discomfort during a laser cleaning procedure. Because of this, you may not need local anesthetic before the process begins. Like anything else, if you’re experiencing pain, you should alert your dentist.
You may feel sensitivity after dental cleaning if you experience gum inflammation or have sensitive teeth. This is true of any dental cleaning. However, this will fade. We recommend cleaning your teeth and gums at home and using tooth-sensitive toothpaste.
Do gums grow back after laser surgery?
No. The gum will not grow back after we remove the gum tissue due to laser deep cleaning surgery. But with good and consistent oral hygiene, the new form that your gums take after the surgery should remain. Gum grafting also adds healthy tissue to the mouth.
How long does laser gum surgery take to heal?
Like any other procedure, healing times depend on the severity of the treated dental issue. That being said, healing time, on average, for laser gum surgery is anywhere from two to four weeks.
Receive Laser Treatment Today
See the difference that laser dentistry in our New Bern, NC office can make in your oral health. Call our New Bern dentist office for comfortable treatment at (252) 507-0373. You can also schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Hoard online.
Please let us know if you have any questions about laser treatment. We will be glad to answer them for you.